Rugby: Tukapa fall short of season's biggest upset against Clifton

Tukapa were agonisingly close to causing the upset of the Taranaki premier club rugby season only to lose 22-19 to competition frontrunners Clifton at Tikorangi.

The result was Clifton’s second smallest winning margin of the season, after they just beat Inglewood by two points earlier this year.

While a win would not have gauranteed Tukapa a playoff spot because they would have needed other results to go their way, the race for the semifinals will go down to Saturday's final round. 

Clifton and Coastal had already qualified for the playoffs, Southern, New Plymouth Old Boys and Stratford-Eltham remain in contention for the final two berths.

Played in wet and muddy conditions, Tukapa used the surface to their advantage, taking the game to Clifton through its forward pack.

That was most evident at scrum time, where Tukapa held the upper hand and pinned Clifton deep inside its own 22 for long periods of the second half.

Without prop Mike Kainga, Clifton found themselves under pressure up front, which eventually resulted in a yellow card for one of its front-rowers as Tukapa continued to dominate the set piece.

Tukapa enjoyed lengthy periods of possession, particularly in the first half, and was rewarded with a pair of patient, well-constructed tries.

However, whenever Clifton had the ball, their class and attacking threat that they had been known for this season were clear.

With only a few minutes remaining, captain Cole Blyde produced one of the tries of the season.

Excellent support play and handling saw Clifton move the ball down the field before Blyde crossed in the corner, which finished off a sweeping movement that started well inside his own half.

Paul Faoagali scored two of Clifton's four tries, while Tukapa crossed three times.

Stratford-Eltham made it two wins from two against New Plymouth Old Boys this season with a 43-35 victory at Victoria Park.

The win backed up a 31-10 triumph at Vogeltown Park in the opening round.

The defending champions scored seven tries to five, as winger Willem Ratu and hooker Harry Hansen scored doubles for Stratford-Eltham.

Old Boys fullback Jacob Hawkins continued his impressive goal-kicking season and landed all five conversion attempts.

Southern's strong second-round form continued with a 21-12 win over Inglewood at TET Stadium.

Inglewood led for periods of the match, but Southern's forwards proved dominant close to the line and provided a platform for the visitors' attack.

Southern scored three tries to two, with Brent Ashton-Landers converting all three in challenging wet conditions.

In the final match of the weekend, Coastal defeated United 26-7 at Stadium Taranaki.

While United remained competitive throughout the first half, Coastal's second-half performance proved the difference.

Ezra Low scored a consolation try for United on fulltime, while Liam Matthews crossed twice for Coastal.

In Saturday’s final round Tukapa host United at Sanders Park, Southern face Clifton at Hicks Park, Old Boys take on Inglewood at Vogeltown Park and Stratford-Eltham travel to Okato to meet Coastal.

The points after 13 weeks is; Clifton 48, Coastal 33, Southern 30, Old Boys 27, Stratford-Eltham 27, Tukapa 20, Inglewood 13, United 9